Best Guitar Picks for Metal (and why thickness counts)

Looking for the best guitar picks for metal? The right guitar pick can dramatically improve your speed, precision, articulation, and overall control. Whether you’re playing crushing rhythm riffs, blazing solos, technical death metal, thrash, progressive metal, or modern djent, your pick is one of the most important pieces of gear between you and your guitar.

Many guitarists spend thousands on guitars, amplifiers, and pedals while overlooking the one accessory they use every single note: the guitar pick.

In this guide, we’ll explain what makes a great metal guitar pick and why many advanced metal players prefer beveled thick, small picks that maximize control and accuracy. We’ll also take an in-depth look at the ChickenPicks Badazz III and Shredder series, two favorites among players who demand ultimate precision.

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What Makes a Great Guitar Pick for Metal?

Metal guitar demands far more from a pick than most other genres.

A good metal pick should provide:

• Excellent grip
• Minimal pick flex
• Fast string release
• Precise attack
• Comfortable handling during long playing sessions
• Consistent tone from clean passages to high-gain riffs

Pictured above you will see the differences between thin flexible picks that will bend when picking a string compared to a thicker beveled pick that is extremely rigid.

Unlike softer genres where thinner picks often work well, metal players usually benefit from thicker picks that don’t bend during aggressive playing.

The result is:

• More accurate alternate picking
• Cleaner palm-muted riffs
• Better note definition
• Increased speed
• Less fatigue

New to guitar?

When you are a beginner at guitar playing, you might want to know a lot of things about guitar playing in general.

For those of you we have written lots of interesting PickyPedia blogs, which you may find links to at the end of this special.

For more information on what the Best guitar picks for Beginners are, this might be interesting as well.
Whether you are playing acoustic or electric guitar the choice of your guitar pick may differ:

• Best guitar picks for acoustic
• Best guitar picks for electric

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Why Thick Picks Are Better for Metal

One of the biggest misconceptions among newer players is that thinner picks make you play faster.

In reality, the opposite is often true.
When a thin pick hits the string, it flexes before the string moves. That tiny delay reduces accuracy and wastes motion.

A thicker pick transfers your hand movement directly into the string.

Benefits include:

• Immediate response
• Better synchronization between both hands
• More consistent picking dynamics
• Less resistance during fast passages
• Better control at high speeds

Many professional metal guitarists eventually move toward picks between 2.0mm and 4.0mm after experimenting with thinner gauges.

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Why Smaller Picks Improve Precision

Another characteristic shared by many advanced players is the use of smaller picks.

A smaller pick naturally positions your fingers closer to the strings.

This provides:

• Better tactile feedback
• Smaller picking movements
• Greater control over string attack
• Improved economy of motion
• Increased precision during fast alternate picking

This is especially noticeable when playing:

• Sweep picking
• Economy picking
• String skipping
• Tremolo picking
• Technical lead guitar
• Fast rhythm work

Many shredders discover that reducing unnecessary movement is one of the easiest ways to improve speed.

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The Best Guitar Picks for Metal

1. ChickenPicks Badazz III (2.0mm, 2.5mm & 3.2mm)

If you’re looking for one of the finest metal guitar picks available today, the Badazz III deserves serious attention.

A Small Shape for Maximum Control

The Badazz III features a compact Jazz III style design that naturally brings your fingertips closer to the strings.

This provides:

• Faster picking movements
• Greater accuracy
• Excellent control during rapid alternate picking
• Improved comfort while soloing

Many players notice that fast passages simply feel more effortless because the pick requires less hand movement.

For more information on Badazz III picks, please check the full product description.

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Thick Enough for Serious Metal

The Badazz III is available in three thicknesses:

• Badazz III 2.0mm
• Badazz III 2.5mm
• Badazz III 3.2mm

The 2.0mm and 2.5mm are both ideal for players transitioning from standard picks. The 3.2mm is the thickest model and provides maximum stability. Most players that chose for Badazz III picks, usually did play Jazz III picks before.

They all offer:

• Virtually zero flex
• Extremely precise attack
• Slightly smoother feel
• Exceptional rigidity
• Great for heavy rock and classic metal
• Fast string release
• Excellent balance between speed and comfort

If you’ve never tried a thick pick before, the 2.0mm is an excellent starting point. For modern metal, thrash, progressive metal and technical lead playing, the 2.5mm is an outstanding choice.

Players focused on advanced lead guitar, sweeping and intricate alternate picking often appreciate the confidence this thickness inspires.

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Tone Characteristics of the Badazz III

The Badazz III produces:

• Tight low end
• Clear mids
• Crisp highs
• Excellent note definition
• Smooth string release

These qualities help complex riffs remain articulate even under high gain.

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2. ChickenPicks Shredder (2.4mm & 3.5mm)

The Shredder was developed specifically with speed in mind.

Its compact size and highly refined round tip make it particularly appealing to players who spend significant time practicing lead guitar.

In fact, were the Badazz III could be seen as a follow up for Jazz III picks, most people find the Shredder comparable to Jazz II models, albeit much thicker, rigid and providing beveled edges.

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Why the Shredder Excels at Fast Playing

The Shredder’s small profile encourages efficient picking mechanics.

Many players describe it as feeling like an extension of the fingertips.

For more information on Shredder picks, please read the full product description.

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Shredder 2.4mm

The 2.4mm version offers an outstanding combination of:

• Speed
• Comfort
• Precision
• Excellent control

It feels incredibly stable while remaining forgiving enough for players developing advanced techniques.

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Shredder 3.5mm

For players seeking absolute rigidity, the 3.5mm is a remarkable option.

Benefits include:

• Ultimate precision
• Immediate attack
• Maximum consistency
• Incredible accuracy during fast solos

Despite its thickness, the polished bevels help the pick glide effortlessly across the strings.

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Why Small Picks Help You Play Faster

When learning metal guitar, reducing unnecessary movement is critical. You will see this on many instructional videos on Youtube and Instagram for example when checking out Kristofer Dahl from GMC.

A smaller pick naturally encourages:

• Shorter pick strokes
• Better wrist mechanics
• Reduced muscle tension
• More efficient alternate picking

Instead of relying on large arm movements, players develop precise wrist control that translates into greater speed and endurance.

This is one reason why many experienced shredders eventually move toward compact picks.

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Which Thickness Should You Choose?

Choosing the right thickness depends largely on your playing style.

Badazz III 2.0mm & 2.5mm:

• You’re moving from standard picks like Jazz III
• When playing multiple genres
• You want a smooth transition to thicker picks
• When primarily playing metal
• You want excellent all-around performance
• You enjoy and improve fast lead playing

Badazz III 3.2mm:

• You want maximum precision
• You play technical metal
• You love ultra-rigid picks

Shredder 2.4mm:

• Lead guitar is your main focus
• You want speed with comfort
• You prefer a compact profile like Jazz II

Shredder 3.5mm:

• Demanding ultimate control
• You play advanced shred techniques
• You prefer the thickest, most stable pick possible
• Looking for the fattest tone available

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Are Thick Picks Hard to Get Used To?

For players coming from 0.60mm or 0.88mm picks, a 2mm+ pick may initially feel unusual.

However, most players adapt surprisingly quickly. And after let’s say 5 minutes of playing with a ChickenPicks guitar picks we see that 9 out of 10 players don’t want to go back to their thin flexible pick.

After a few practice sessions, many notice:

• Improved timing
• Cleaner picking
• Better rhythm accuracy
• Increased confidence
• Reduced hand fatigue

It’s often one of the most noticeable upgrades a guitarist can make.

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Final Thoughts

If your goal is tighter riffs, faster solos, and greater precision, switching to a small, thick guitar pick can have a significant impact on your playing.

The ChickenPicks Badazz III series offers exceptional all-around performance for metal guitarists, with the 2.0mm, 2.5mm, and 3.2mm models covering everything from versatile heavy rock to highly technical metal.

For players whose main focus is speed and lead guitar, the ChickenPicks Shredder 2.4mm and 3.5mm provide an incredibly precise playing experience. Their compact shape allows your fingers to stay closer to the strings, promoting efficient picking mechanics, excellent control, and greater comfort during fast soloing.

Nothing beats a Shredder

For players whose main focus is speed and lead guitar, the ChickenPicks Shredder 2.4mm and 3.5mm provide an incredibly precise playing experience. Their compact shape allows your fingers to stay closer to the strings, promoting efficient picking mechanics, excellent control, and greater comfort during fast soloing.

When playing with Shredder 2.4mm as well as the 3.5mm, people instantly notice a fatter tone and less fatigue, which makes it easier to play fast single note runs effortlessly.

Whether you’re just getting into metal or refining advanced techniques, investing in a quality pick is one of the simplest and most effective ways to improve your playing.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Learn more about other ChickenPicks guitar picks models

1. Bermuda XL 2.1mm
2. Bermuda III-P 2.1mm & 2.7mm
3. Bermuda III 2.1mm & 2.7mm
4. Light 2.2mm
5. Regular 2.6mm

What others say about ChickenPicks guitar picks

Musikhaus Thomann
Chicago Music Exchange
Guitarpickreviews.com
Anatomy of guitar tone

More guitar knowledge at PickyPedia

1. Would you prefer a tube amp?
2. What is tone suck?
3. How to mic your guitar amp?
4. What means headroom in a guitar amp?  
5. Would you prefer an open or closed back cabinet?
6. What is fretboard radius and is it important?  
7. Is guitar scale length important?    
8. How to make your guitar sound better
9. How to use a guitar compressor pedal?
10. Overtones and Undertones in guitar sound
11. The right guitar effects pedal order
12. FRFR- versus analog speaker cabinets explained
13. Humbuckers vs single coil
14. What is an attenuator?
15. How do tube amps work?
16. The best lacquer for guitars
17. Speakers and Ohms, is it important?

Best guitar picks for electric guitar

Finding the best guitar pick for electric guitar isn’t simply about choosing a certain thickness.
Material, shape, bevel, grip and stiffness all contribute to how your guitar responds.

Whether you’re playing blues, rock, metal, jazz, country or fusion, your guitar pick is one of the most important pieces of gear you’ll ever own. While pickups, amplifiers and pedals receive most of the attention, the humble pick is the first thing that touches the strings—and it has a significant impact on your tone, speed, dynamics and playing comfort.

Please notice that the guitar pick is that part of the whole tone chain that connects “you” with your guitar like the tyres of a sportscar connect to the road surface.

In this guide we’ll explain:

• How guitar picks influence electric guitar tone
• Which materials perform best
• Popular guitar pick brands
• How thickness affects your playing
• Which ChickenPicks models are excellent choices for electric guitar

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Does Your Guitar Pick Really Matter?

Absolutely. A guitar pick acts as the connection between your hand and your instrument. Every note begins with the pick striking the string, making it one of the biggest contributors to attack, articulation and consistency.

Many professional players spend years experimenting with different picks before settling on one that complements their technique.

Changing to a higher-quality pick can improve:

• Picking accuracy
• Speed
• String control
• Dynamic range
• Tone clarity
• Playing comfort
• Pick longevity

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What Makes a Great Electric Guitar Pick?

Comparison Table for music style versus type of guitar pick

Playing style	Recommended thickness	Shape of the pick	Recommended ChickenPicks model
Rock	2.0 – 3.5mm	Small 351 (358), Teardrop.	Shredder 2.4 & 3.5mm
Blues	2.0 – 3.5mm	351 or Triangular model	Light 2.2, Regular 2.6 or Bermuda III
Metal	2.0 – 3.5mm	Small 351 (358), Teardrop, Jazz III	Shredder 2.4 & 3.5 + Badazz III
Jazz	2.0 – 3.5mm	Small 351 (358), Jazz III or II	Shredder and Badazz III picks
Country	2.0 – 3.5mm	351 or Triangular model	Light / Regular & Bermuda III-P
Pop	2.0 – 3.5mm	351 or Triangular model	Light 2.2mm, Regular 2.6mm

In the above table I mentioned my favorite picks for the different styles of playing. Of course the right guitar pick for you may be totally different. In my opinion the “right” pick is more like a personal preference.

At ChickenPicks we have many customers using different picks on different guitars, different music styles and so on. They even compbine ChickenPicks guitar picks with Dunlop, Fender and Ernie Ball picks.

There isn’t one perfect pick for every guitarist.

Instead, the best electric guitar pick depends on several factors like material, thickness, shape and beveled edges.

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Material

The material of a guitar pick plays a major role in how it feels, sounds, and performs. Different materials have unique properties that influence grip, stiffness, durability, tone (including pick noise) and how smoothly the pick moves across the strings. These differences can affect your playing experience.

Some of the most common guitar pick materials include:

• Celluloid – One of the oldest and most traditional pick materials. It offers a warm, vintage tone with a smooth feel, but it tends to wear down faster than many modern materials.
• Nylon – Known for its flexibility and comfortable grip, nylon is a popular choice for beginners and rhythm players. It produces a softer attack but can feel too flexible for players who prefer a more rigid pick.
• Delrin (Acetal) – A durable, low-friction material that provides a balanced tone and consistent performance. It’s widely used in many modern guitar picks thanks to its excellent wear resistance.
• Ultem (Ultex) – A high-performance thermoplastic that is extremely stiff and durable. It delivers a bright, articulate tone with excellent note definition, making it a favorite among many lead guitarists.
• Acrylic – Acrylic picks are rigid and smooth, producing a crisp attack and bright sound. Many players appreciate their polished feel and excellent string release.
• Thermoset Polymer – Unlike conventional thermoplastics, thermoset materials undergo a permanent curing process that creates an exceptionally stable and durable material. They resist wear, maintain their shape over years of playing, and provide an incredibly smooth glide across the strings. Premium thermoset picks, such as those made by ChickenPicks, are valued for their consistency, low friction, precise attack, and long lifespan.

Each material offers a unique combination of tone, feel, and durability. Ultimately, the best choice comes down to your playing style and personal preference, which is why many guitarists enjoy experimenting with different materials before settling on a favorite.

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Thickness

Many beginner guitar players think that guitar picks have to be flexible to be more forgiving on strumming.
More advanced (electric) guitar players generally prefer medium to thick picks because they offer greater precision and control. Accordingly, many guitar players find that thicker picks provide the feel that the space between 2 strings because the pick fills up that space a little more.

Picking delay & hand fatigue

Thicker picks won’t bend at all and because the pick has more mass, you don’t have to grip too tightly. And because your forearm has less tension, many people find it easier to play riffs faster, or play longer sessions with thicker picks.

So, in the end “do you really need a pick that is flexible?”

More Mass = more tone

It has been said, thicker guitar picks tend to have more mass, which drives more energy into the strings.
As a result the tone may be fatter and has more volume. Guitar players find that thicker picks with beveled edges also sounds more articulate.

As a fact, hitting the strings less hard may also prevent from string breakage.

Shape

The shape of a guitar pick has a significant impact on both tone and playability. While personal preference always plays a role, different shapes are designed with different playing styles in mind.

Pointed picks

These offer a smaller contact area with the string, resulting in a more precise attack and cleaner note articulation. This makes them especially popular for lead guitar, alternate picking, sweep picking, and fast technical playing where accuracy is essential. A pointed tip combined with a thicker pick is for many metal guitar players popular for precise- and speed picking.

Rounder tips

Rounder tips strike the string more gently, producing a smoother, warmer attack. They tend to glide naturally over the strings, making them a favorite for rhythm guitarists, strumming, blues, and players who prefer a less aggressive sound.

Larger picks

Larger picks can also provide a more secure grip, while smaller picks are often favored by players looking for maximum control and speed. Ultimately, the best shape is the one that feels most natural in your hand and complements your playing style.

Triangular picks

These provide, in many cases, more gripping surface, which may help for better grip. Better grip to your pick feels for many guitar players that the pick won’t slide or twist between your fingers. ChickenPicks provides gripping ribs on all of the pick models and you should check out Gripperzz when you have extremely sweaty fingers. You can simply glue GRIPPERZZ onto all kinds of picks and the soft rubber ribs prevent for slipping and sliding picks.

Bevel

The bevel is the angled edge around the tip of a guitar pick, and it’s one of the most overlooked features when choosing a pick. Although subtle in appearance, the bevel has a major influence on how a pick interacts with the strings.

Finally, the edge of the beveled pick that hits the string isn’t that thick. As a result the sound of a thicker pick with beveled edges has a snappy articulate sound instead of the more duller sound of a thick pick without beveled edges.

A well-designed bevel allows the pick to glide smoothly across the strings with less resistance, reducing pick drag and making fast passages feel more effortless. This can improve comfort during long playing sessions while helping maintain speed, consistency, and accuracy.

The bevel also affects the pick’s attack and release. A beveled edge creates a smoother transition from one string to the next, resulting in cleaner articulation and a more fluid playing experience.

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Guitar Pick Materials Explained

One of the biggest differences between guitar picks lies in the material they’re made from.

Here’s an overview of the most common options.

Celluloid

Celluloid remains one of the most recognizable pick materials.

Advantages:

• Warm vintage tone
• Smooth feel
• Familiar attack
• Affordable

Disadvantages:

• Wears relatively quickly
• Can become slippery
• Less durable than modern materials

Many classic guitarists grew up using celluloid picks, making them a popular choice for vintage-style playing.

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Nylon

Nylon picks are known for their flexibility and textured grip.

Advantages:

• Comfortable
• Flexible
• Excellent grip
• Great for beginners

Disadvantages:

• Softer attack
• Faster wear
• Can feel too flexible for aggressive picking

They’re especially popular among rhythm players and lighter picking styles.

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Delrin (Acetal)

Delrin is one of today’s most common pick materials.

Advantages:

• Durable
• Consistent
• Low friction
• Balanced tone

Many popular picks from Dunlop’s Tortex line use Delrin-based materials.

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Ultem (Ultex)

Ultem is a thermoplastic used in many premium guitar picks from Dunlop and other brands.

Advantages:

• Bright articulation
• High durability
• Excellent stiffness
• Crisp attack

A lot of guitar players find ultex- and acrylic picks, both showed in the image above sound great. Both sound bright and clear as the materials are harder than let’s say Delrin and Celluloid.

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Acrylic

Acrylic picks are prized for their glass-like appearance and rigid feel.

Advantages:

• Bright tone
• Smooth release
• Excellent durability

Some players enjoy the clarity acrylic produces, particularly for lead guitar.

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Thermoset

One of the most advanced materials used in premium guitar picks is Thermoset polymer.

Unlike standard thermoplastics, thermoset materials undergo a permanent curing process. Once hardened, they cannot be melted or reshaped again. They are extremely hard.

This creates several advantages for guitarists:

• Clear bright tone with lots of low-end
• Extremely low wear / long lifespan
• Consistent stiffness, no bending at all
• Smooth string release because of the glossy surface
• won’t get jagged, with prevents from pick noise

Because thermoset materials don’t soften with heat in the same way as conventional plastics, they retain their feel and playing characteristics over years of use.

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How Thickness Changes Your Tone

One of the biggest misconceptions is that thinner picks are always easier to play.

For electric guitar, many experienced players eventually move toward thicker picks because they provide greater control.

Thin Picks (0.60–1.00 mm)

Best for:

• Light strumming
• Beginners
• Acoustic rhythm

Characteristics:

• Flexible
• Bright attack
• Less precise

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Medium Picks (1.00–1.40 mm)

Best for:

• Versatile playing
• Rhythm and lead
• Pop and rock

Characteristics:

• Balanced flexibility
• Comfortable
• Good all-round choice

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Thick Picks (1.5 mm and above)

Best for:

• Lead guitar
• Rock
• Blues
• Metal
• Fusion
• Jazz

Characteristics:

• Precise
• Powerful attack
• Better note separation
• Increased control
• Reduced pick flex

Many renowned guitarists prefer thick picks because nearly all of the movement comes from the player’s hand rather than the pick bending.

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Popular Guitar Pick Brands

Several manufacturers have earned strong reputations for producing quality guitar picks.

Probably the best-known pick manufacturer worldwide is Jim Dunlop.

Popular Dunlop series include:

• Tortex
• Jazz III
• Ultex
• Flow
• Primetone

Besides Dunlop there is Fender, D’Addario and Ernie Ball who all have guitar picks made out of celluloid and other standard materials.

Ernie Ball has the Prodigy picks in black and white. Fun fact is that many people find that the thickness and bevels look like some of the Badazz III and Bermuda III picks from ChickenPicks guitar picks.
People say that in January 2017 ChickenPicks was far ahead of their time with that model and we are proud of that.

More about the introduction of ChickenPicks Badazz III picks you will find at ChickenPicks versus other guitar pick brands at the end of that page.

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ChickenPicks guitar picks

ChickenPicks has developed a reputation among professional players for premium thermoset guitar picks featuring precision bevels, exceptional durability and remarkably low friction.

Their picks (developed by Eppo Franken in 1985) are designed to minimize pick drag while maintaining excellent control, making them popular among players who demand accuracy, speed and consistency.

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Which Guitar Pick Shape Is Best?

Shape matters just as much as thickness.

Standard Shape

The classic teardrop.

Excellent for:

• Rhythm
• General purpose
• Everyday playing

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Jazz Shape

Smaller with a sharper tip.

Ideal for:

• Fast lead guitar
• Precision
• Alternate picking

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Triangle Picks

Larger gripping surface with three playable tips.

Perfect for:

• Comfort
• Longer lifespan
• Heavy picking

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What Do Professional Guitarists Use?

There isn’t one universal pick among professionals.

Many players choose thick picks because they offer:

• Better articulation
• Faster picking
• Improved accuracy
• Consistent tone
• Reduced hand fatigue

Professional guitarists often experiment extensively before finding the pick that best matches their technique.

Publications like Guitar World consistently highlight that the “best” guitar pick ultimately depends on your playing style, preferred feel, and tonal goals, while emphasizing factors such as material, thickness, grip, and shape when comparing today’s top options.

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Best ChickenPicks for Electric Guitar

Every guitarist has different preferences, but these four ChickenPicks models have become favorites among electric players.

Shredder

• Shredding Progressive metal
• Fusion & Jazz
• Fast alternate picking

The refined bevel helps the pick glide effortlessly across the strings while maintaining excellent control.

The Shredder comes in 2 thicknesses:

• Shredder 2.4mm
• Shredder 3.5mm

Check for more information about the Shredder guitar picks the full product description page.

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Light 2.2mm & Regular 2.6mm

For players looking for versatility, the Light and Regular models are outstanding all-round choices.

They’re well suited for:

• Rock
• Blues
• Classic rock
• Pop
• Worship
• Country

Their familiar shape makes transitioning from traditional picks easy while benefiting from ChickenPicks’ premium thermoset material, thickness and beveled edges

Check for more info about our Light 2.2mm picks this product page.

Check for more info about our Regular 2.6mm picks this product page.

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Badazz III

The Badazz III combines a compact size with a highly precise tip.

It’s particularly popular among players who enjoy:

• Fast lead playing
• Hybrid picking
• Articulate solos
• Detailed phrasing

The Badazz III picks come in 3 thicknesses:

• Badazz III 2.0mm
• Badazz III 2.5mm
• Badazz III 3.2mm

Check for more info about our Badazz III picks this product page.

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Bermuda III and Bermuda III-P

Players who prefer a larger pick often appreciate the added stability and confidence the Bermuda III provides.

Check for more information about Bermuda III picks the product page.

Check for more information about Bermuda III-P picks the product page.

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Final Thoughts

The best guitar pick for electric guitar isn’t determined by thickness alone. Material, shape, bevel and overall feel all contribute to your playing experience.

Premium materials—especially modern thermoset polymers—offer exceptional durability and consistency, making them an excellent investment for players who want reliable performance over many years.

If you’re looking for a premium electric guitar pick, the ChickenPicks Shredder, Light & Regular, Badazz III and Bermuda III each offer unique advantages, allowing you to choose the shape and size that best fits your playing style while benefiting from the smooth feel and long-lasting performance of ChickenPicks’ proprietary thermoset material.

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More guitar knowledge at PickyPedia

1. Would you prefer a tube amp?
2. What is tone suck?
3. How to mic your guitar amp?
4. What means headroom in a guitar amp?  
5. Would you prefer an open or closed back cabinet?
6. What is fretboard radius and is it important?  
7. Is guitar scale length important?    
8. How to make your guitar sound better
9. How to use a guitar compressor pedal?
10. Overtones and Undertones in guitar sound
11. The right guitar effects pedal order
12. FRFR- versus analog speaker cabinets explained
13. Humbuckers vs single coil
14. What is an attenuator?
15. How do tube amps work?
16. The best lacquer for guitars
17. Speakers and Ohms, is it important?

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Frequently Asked Questions

What guitar picks should I use as a Beginner?

Choosing a guitar pick may seem like a small detail. But it can make a surprisingly big difference in how comfortable your playing feels and how your guitar sounds. Choosing the right pick can help you play more accurately, reduce hand fatigue, and make practicing more enjoyable even when you are a beginner.

While many beginners automatically reach for thin, flexible picks, there’s no single “best” choice. Your ideal pick depends on your playing style, the music you enjoy, and what feels comfortable in your hand. The best approach is to experiment with different thicknesses, materials, and shapes until you find what works for you. (Guitar World)

Short summary

For beginners, the most important factors are pick thickness, material, shape, and grip. Although many new players start with thinner picks, it’s worth trying thicker picks as well for finding the best guitar pick for you.
You may discover that a thicker, beveled pick offers better control, improved tone, and a more relaxed playing experience. And of course, it’s more durable.

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Why thickness plays a role in guitar tone

More mass is more tone

A guitar pick transfers energy from your hand to the string. Generally speaking, a thicker pick contains more mass and flexes less, allowing more of that energy to go directly into the string.
This may result in a fuller, warmer and more articulate tone.

Thin picks can produce a brighter sound, but they also absorb part of your picking energy by bending before the string is released. That flexibility can reduce precise picking during single-note playing and faster passages as you may also understand from what GuitarWorld says in their article about picks (GW).

More grip with thicker picks

A thicker pick fills your fingers more naturally, making it easier to hold without squeezing tightly. Because the pick is more substantial, many players find they can maintain better control with less effort.

This can be especially helpful when learning new techniques or playing single note runs.

Why beveled edges make precise picking easier

Less string distance between 2 strings

Another advantage of thicker picks is that the thickness seems to reduce the amount of space between two strings.
Many guitar players feel this makes string changes feel more precise and efficient, especially during lead playing.

Less delay in pick attack and the flexibility is in your hand

The actual showed model here is a ChickenPicks guitar picks Badazz III 3.2mm. Find more information about the Badazz III picks here.

Often guitarists find that a thicker pick feels more natural in your hand and you don’t have to grip too firmly. Accordingly, this loosener gripping may help the pick not that sturdy. Actually, the degree of grip between your fingers determines how flexible and easy the pick glides over the strings.

Less string breakage with thicker picks

It may sound surprising, but many players find that thicker beveled picks are actually gentler on strings than thin picks with sharper edges.

A thicker pick has more mass of its own, which helps you creating more as we said earlier in this post. That said, many guitar players say that a thicker pick increases volume, more than thin picks do. This is the reason that you won’t have to pick your strings extremely hard to get that full tone with thicker picks.

Furthermore a thicker beveled pick glides over the string instead of snapping against it, the contact can be smoother, potentially reducing unnecessary pick wear. Accordingly, less pick wear may sometimes also mean less pick noise.

Why thicker picks help avoiding hand fatigue (Grip less firmly)

One overlooked advantage of thicker picks is ergonomics.
Since you don’t need to pinch them as tightly to maintain control, your fingers, wrist and forearm can stay more relaxed. Less tension often means less fatigue, especially during longer practice sessions.

Relaxed hands also make it easier to develop good picking technique from the beginning.

Increase faster playing

The more relaxed you hand / forearm is, the easier it will be to speed up your picking speed. Many people find that you should not try to play as fast as you can starting from the beginning. Build up your speed in time and avoid some sort of “overkill” to your picking hand.

Would you need smaller picks, or larger guitar picks?

There is no universal “best” size.

Smaller picks often provide:

• Faster, more precise picking
• Better control for lead playing
• Efficient string changes

Larger picks often provide:

• More surface area to hold
• Comfortable grip for beginners
• Great control for rhythm playing and strumming

Many players eventually own both and switch depending on the music they play.

The solution for sweaty fingers

Even the perfect pick isn’t helpful if it constantly rotates in your fingers.

Some picks include textured grip surface. Unlike ChickenPicks guitar picks which provide large ribs which allow some ventilation. As a result, many guitar players find that these ventilating ribs help you not getting too much sweat between your fingers. Even when you already have too much sweaty fingers, the ribs can help wick away some of the moisture.

Pictured above you will see the standard gripping ribs on ChickenPicks guitar picks. Many guitar players find these perfect for more grip onto their guitar pick.

The best grip stickers

If you struggle with extremely sweaty hands, accessories like GRIPPERZZ as showed in this link, add grip to any pick, helping you gripping securely throughout your playing. The ribs that these GRIPPERZZ provide are incredibly high and guitarists find that these provide the best grip accessories for guitar picks since Monster Grips went out of business.
When you want to know more on GRIPPERZZ, please read our post.

What is the best guitar pick material for beginners?

The material affects both feel and durability and tonal differences.

Popular materials include:

• Thermoset: Extremely rigid and durable, delivers percussive fat punchy tone.
• Nylon: Flexible with a softer feel, often preferred for strumming.
• Celluloid: Traditional feel with a warm response, although it wears faster than many modern materials.
• Delrin: Durable, balanced tone and good all-round choice.
• Ultex: Famous for its rigid feel and crystal-clear bright tone.

Which Pick Shape is best for Beginners

Shape is largely personal preference as many guitarists find that they use the picks that fit their needs.

The classic 351 shape remains a great starting point because it’s versatile and works well for almost every playing style.

Smaller Jazz-style picks offer excellent precision, while larger triangle picks provide additional grip.
Over time, you’ll naturally discover which shape feels most comfortable in your hand.

For me personally I like a guitar pick that feels well balanced in my hands and which makes me feel good. My opinion is that when the pick feels well balanced, I don’t need to push that hard to let the strings ring fully out.

How to hold a guitar pick

As a beginner you might want to know how to hold your pick for strumming, playing riffs and more.
In fact, the way you hold the pick best is the way it feels best for your comfort.

Place the guitar pick on top of your index finger with a little less than let’s say 6mm sticking out past the fingertip. The pick is sandwiched between the thumb and the side of the (curled) index finger. When you are interested in more information about how to hold a guitar pick for different guitar and/or music styles, you could dive into the special we wrote.

Why I started ChickenPicks guitar picks

It must be somewhere around the time that I was about 18 years old in ca.1986 that I played with a Scotty’s 0.6mm Nylon pick for years and I wasn’t happy with it anymore. The Heavy picks back than were Gibson Heavy black picks with a thickness of a little over 1.0mm I guess.

On the other hand you had the purple Dunlop 2.0mm, which I tried to become used to for months.
But I missed the balance giving me the feel of synergy when playing. Furthermore I absolutely hated the sound that this pick created. It was dull and characterless.

Trying any material that I came across

Well, I was on the search for my new guitar pick that I wanted to create for myself. Anything from ash trays to even the front of a radio, you name it. I tried it all.

Thermosetting plastic

One moment I came across a piece of thermosetting plastic and I found out that it had the perfect thickness of 2.6mm to create bevels on both sides. And after a few hours I found the perfect pick, the perfect material and the perfect size for me.

From now on I was able to play licks that I wasn’t able before

The most striking advantage of this material, thickness and beveled edges was that I did not have to grip too tightly.
This made it easier for me to play guitar licks that I wasn’t able to play with thin flimsy picks.
At ChickenPicks guitar picks you will find the Regular 2.6mm, which is my goto pick ever since.

Trying to selling them

Well, after all these years of making them for myself and for some friends, my wife Jolanda asked me in 2010 if we could sell them. As a joke (we both had a great job in banking) Jolanda created a small website and I started to post on Twitter.
The joke turned to a serious company selling our picks in 100+ different countries and over time more than 200,000 guitarists have been playing with ChickenPicks guitar picks.

You can find the different models of our picks through this link as well as the other products we make.

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Important terms in guitar picks (or plectrums)

Alternate picking

A picking technique where downstrokes and upstrokes alternate continuously. It improves speed, timing and efficiency.

Attack

The initial contact between the pick and the string. Attack strongly influences articulation and how a note begins.

Beveled edge

A tapered or angled edge on the pick that helps it glide smoothly across the strings with less resistance.

Flex

The amount a pick bends while playing. Thin picks flex more, while thicker picks remain rigid.

Gauge

Another word for pick thickness, usually measured in millimeters (mm).

Grip

How securely a pick stays between your fingers. Grip depends on texture, thickness and the material itself.

Rounded tip

Produces a smoother attack and often sounds slightly warmer, making it suitable for rhythm playing.

Pointy tip

Provides greater precision and articulation, making it popular for lead guitar and fast picking.

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Should I use ChickenPicks guitar picks as a beginner?

Many beginner guitarists start with thinner and more flexible picks—typically under 1.0 mm—because they feel forgiving during basic chord strumming (GW).

Beginners shouldn’t limit themselves to thin picks alone.

At ChickenPicks, we see many beginner guitar players who enjoy our thicker picks because they appreciate the improved control, smooth beveled edges and relaxed grip.
While they feel different from traditional thin picks, they can be an excellent option right from the start.

The best advice on guitar picks for beginners is simple: don’t assume thinner is automatically better;
try several different picks and let your own hands decide.

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Why many Beginners choose for ChickenPicks guitar picks

ChickenPicks are designed with a different philosophy than many traditional guitar picks.

Rather than relying on flexibility, they focus on rigidity, carefully designed beveled edges and ergonomic comfort.
Many players find this combination offers:

• Excellent precise picking accuracy
• Smooth string release
• Fuller, more articulate and percussive tone
• Less gripping pressure
• Reduced hand fatigue during longer practice sessions
• Outstanding durability

How to Choose the Best Guitar Pick for Beginners

Whether you’re learning your first chords or starting to explore lead guitar, trying different pick styles is one of the easiest upgrades you can make. While thin picks certainly have their place, many beginners discover that a thicker ChickenPicks pick gives them more confidence, better control and a playing experience that simply feels more natural.
After all, the best guitar pick for beginners isn’t determined by a rule—it’s the one that inspires you to keep playing.

How We Chose the Best Picks

We have many different picks to choose and after trying several models, brands, materials and thicknesses we ended up with just a few for strumming, playing riffs etc. Finally we chose what suits us best for hours and hours of jamming.

Our Recommended Picks

As for ChickenPicks we recommend trying out the Light 2.2mm, Shredder 3.5mm, Badazz III 2.5mm and a Bermuda III 2.1mm pick for starting. Of course, we have many other models to choose from and you are free to choose anything you like. The recommended models cover the most in terms of differentness between them all.

Choosing Your First Guitar Pick ← conclusion

Choosing your first guitar pick doesn’t have to be complicated. While many beginners are told to start with a thin pick, the reality is that comfort, control and confidence matter far more than thickness alone. The best guitar pick is the one that feels natural in your hand and encourages you to keep playing.

If you’re mostly strumming chords on an acoustic guitar, a slightly thinner or medium pick may feel more forgiving. If you’re learning riffs, melodies or electric guitar, a thicker pick can provide greater accuracy and a fuller sound.

At ChickenPicks, we believe beginners shouldn’t be limited by traditional advice. A high-quality pick with excellent grip and consistent tone can make practicing more enjoyable from day one. Whether you prefer a thinner pick or a thicker model, the most important thing is to choose a pick that inspires you to play more often.

Guitar picks sizes chart

When you want to know more about the picks and their dimensions, please check our guitar picks sizes chart.

What others say about ChickenPicks guitar picks

Musikhaus Thomann
Chicago Music Exchange
Guitarpickreviews.com
Anatomy of guitar tone

F.A.Q.

Modulation- vs. Time-based guitar effects

Explore the world of modulation- and time-based effects to transform your guitar sound into a rich and dynamic sonic experience.

Modulation- and time-based effects are essential for any guitarist looking to add texture and depth to their playing.
From subtle chorus tones to mind-blowing phasers and from delays to reverb and more.

Modulation effects explained

Modulation guitar effects create movement, depth, and spatial character in the sound by constantly varying the guitar signal.

Virtually all guitar modulation effects rely on an oscillator, specifically a Low-Frequency Oscillator (LFO). This is the “engine” behind the effect.
They work by copying the original, dry guitar signal, manipulating this copy (pitch, time, or phase), and then mixing it with the original sound.

Modulation effects are used to add movement and dimension to your guitar sound. They can create everything from subtle shifts in tone to dramatic, swirling sonic landscapes, enhancing both live performances and studio recordings.

Time-based effects explained

Time-based guitar effects manipulate the time of the guitar signal by storing it and playing it back later. They create echoes, spaciousness, and repetition, making the guitar sound fuller, wider, or more atmospheric.

Overview of common Modulation Effects:

Chorus: Copies the signal and delays it slightly, creating the sound of multiple guitars playing together.

Phaser: Creates a swirling or rotating effect by shifting portions of the signal out of phase.

Flanger: Similar to phaser, but with a shorter delay and repetitive, jet-like sweeps.

Tremolo: Quickly and rhythmically varies the volume of the signal.

Vibrato: Varies the pitch of the signal for an undulating sound. Rotary: Simulates the rotating effect of a classic Leslie speaker cabinet.

Graphics for modulation effects

Graphic wise you could show how modulation effects work. Below you will see the situation of completely “in phase” and this means that you will hear a nice clear sound without any out of phase sounds.

Slightly out of phase it may look like this below:

Completely out of phase should be look like this here below

Important aspects:

Placement: For best results, place modulation effects after distortion (overdrive), but often before delay and reverb, known as time-based effects. Read about the right effects pedal order for the best sound out of your FX-pedals.

Overview of common time-based effects

Delay (or echo) is an essential effect in every guitarist’s toolkit. It adds echo to your sound.
Think of it as Tone-Tone-Tone-Tone-Tone… And you can adjust the length between the “Tones” and how many there are in the chain.

Reverb: An effects pedal that adds spaciousness, depth, and ambiance to the sound. It simulates the natural reverberation of sound in a physical space. Many guitar amps provide a reverb channel within the, whether it’s a Tube- or Solid-State amp.

Reverb works by creating hundreds (or thousands) of small, rapid reflections of the original sound, which slowly decay.

FX-loop / Send & Return

Time-based effects do their job even better when connected through a so-called FX-loop on your amp. You may recognize this on your amp with the words “Send & Return”.

Effects pedals overview

Although this special mainly is about modulation- and time-based effects pedals, there is more in the world of guitar effects pedals. Globally these are classified in 4 different groups.

• Modulation pedals (chorus, phaser, and flanger)
• Time-based effects pedals (reverb, delay), and volume-based effects.
• Gain effect pedals (distortion, compressor, booster etc.)
• Multi-effects pedals. These are pedals with multiple effects. We won’t discuss the multi-effect pedal not here.

Gain pedals explained

Gain pedals like overdrive, distortion, fuzz distort the guitar signal by increasing the volume above the “headroom,” creating harmonic overtones, compression, and a rougher sound.

The core function of these pedals is to “flatten” the signal waveform, resulting in a distorted sound.
These pedals may be a perfect way to make your guitar sound better.

Wah-Wah pedal

While technically a movable filter or “envelope filter,” the “sweeping” tone change places it within the broader category of modulating effects.

The pedal alters the frequency response (tone) of your guitar, resulting in a sound similar to a human voice saying “wah-wah.”

Learn more about the frequency spectrum where the guitar does its job best.

Delay pedals explained

Different delay pedals use different parameters to modify their sound, but there are generally 4 essential parameters used by all delay effects:

Time – The time it takes for the repeat to occur. This is also called “frequency.”

Feedback – How many repeats are played? This is sometimes referred to as “regen.”

Mix – The degree to which the effect signal is mixed with the original signal.

Level – This determines the overall output level of the mix of dry (normal instrument) and wet (delayed) signals.

Tempo

The tempo, or beats per minute (BPM), of a song is crucial for the timing of echo and delay effects. You want your delay to be in sync with the song.

Tap Tempo

Some delay pedals provide a Tap Tempo knob, which you may vary the time of the delay per different song. This is very useful when you use pronounced delay sounds.

Slap-back delay

In country- and rockabilly music guitar players mainly use a very subtle and extremely short delay with just 1 repeat.
This is called a slap-back delay and the time varies somewhere between 80 – 140 BPM.
The repeat is fairly loud, but not “too much”.

With rotary knob delays it can be quite an advantage to find the right BPM for your needs.

There is more to gain pedals

Think of the distortion/overdrive, equalization (EQ), compressor, clean booster and octaver. These are gain pedals as well, as they’re pumping up the volume of the whole signal before entering the amplifier. Normally they increase the volume within the “headroom” limits.

Learn more about what headroom means in guitar sound.

Internal amplifier

As said before, there are many so called gain pedals and these all have a built-in amplifier. So, it is possible to pump up the volume to higher levels than the volume of your guitar amp alone.

Increasing the input gain btw may distort the clean sound of your amplifier though, so cranking up the volume would be best by turning up the amplifier volume.

Buffered- vs. True Bypass pedals

Most guitar players prefer a combination of both Buffered- and True Bypass pedals to avoid “Tone suck”.

Whereas True Bypass pedals basically do not color the sound, they may cause tone suck with large cable set ups.
Along the whole FX-pedal chain there may be loss of the original guitar signal.
Buffered pedals have some sort of mini amplifier to boost the signal along the whole cable length.

Guitar Pedal Accessories

Almost all pedals can be powered with a guitar effects power adapter. Some pedals also run on 9-volt batteries.
There are power adapters that can power multiple pedals simultaneously.

When looking for a cheaper option, you should check a so called “Daisy Chain” power cable, which you can find under $10.00.
Most (9V) Daisy chain cables provide several sockets to mostly run 5 – 6 pedals.

What more would you need to know about guitar playing

While there’s a lot to tell about all aspects of guitar playing, we try to provide you with the most important things.
That said, we will explain in a very accessible explanation.

We have written several specials including technical aspects about the guitar itself like the radius of the fret board as well as the difference between humbuckers and single coil pickups and the type of frets your guitar is equipped with.
Even the lacquer on your guitar influences the sound of your guitar.
Some specific effects pedals were described as well as learning about the FX-loop on your Tube- or Solid-State amp and how to mic your amp for the best results.

There are also lessons on specific styles of guitar playing that you might like.

The best ROI for great guitar sound may be something totally different

Many people buy expensive gear like guitars, amps and FX-pedals etc. But the guitar pick is something less important.
And while maybe spending a few thousands of Dollars on gear, the guitar pick may not cost more than let’s say $1.00.

It’s like driving a Porsche 911 or a Ferrari SF90 Stradale on cheap and small $ 55.00 tyres.

Material, thickness and shape really make a huge difference

Guitar picks can be made out of different materials, but most of them are made a cheap standard quality of plastic.

It was around 1985 and I was making guitar picks out of different materials because I wondered what would be the difference. And I wasn’t happy with my flimsy 0.60 Scotty’s (now Dunlop) Nylon pick.

So, there it was… a piece of thermosetting plastic that I managed to file in the shape of a 2.6mm thick guitar pick.

My first words were… WHAT THE…. is this…!! The sound was great and the thickness seemed to be perfect for me. The playability is outrageous and everything seemed to be much easier to play. Much less pick noise due to the material and beveled edges.

My own personal pick

Since then I made my own picks and only played these, while friends asked me to make them for them as well.

It was the time that there only were thin flexible picks, which I did not like at all. I needed a thicker pick for better sound and better balance

The only heavy picks on the market were the Dunlop 2.0mm Delrin purple picks. With these I missed a certain balance in my picking hand that I needed.

Now world renowned for its quality

In 2010 my wife Jolanda and I tried to sell the picks as a hobby, while we both had a good job at a large bank in The Netherlands.
Long story short, now we sell worldwide to more than 100 countries.

9 reasons why these are the best picks on the planet

People love the playability, because due to the beveled edges, the picks slide on and off the strings very easily.
The sound produced by these picks has more low-end and mids, which gives you a fuller sound, even when playing near the bridge. Not those annoying high frequencies.

We collected opinions why people have chosen for ChickenPicks guitar picks, so find out why these are the best picks available.

More than 1 year with just 1 pick

The thermosetting plastic is extremely hard, so the wear is reduced to a minimum even with steel strings.
Also due to the beveled edges ChickenPicks guitar picks stay in shape, even with rough guitar playing styles.

Read the whole story on our “About” page.

Better picks, better tone, better playing.

• Small guitar picks
• Best picks for acoustic
• Best picks for bass guitar
• How to hold a guitar pick
• Best picks for beginners
• Optimize your grip with GRIPPERZZ
• Best picks for Mandolin

What others say about ChickenPicks guitar picks

Musikhaus Thomann
Chicago Music Exchange
Guitarpickreviews.com
Anatomy of guitar tone

Product descriptions:

1. Bermuda XL:
2. Bermuda III-P:
3. Badazz III:
4. Bermuda III:
5. Light:
6. Regular:
7. Shredder:

Guitar essentials:

In guitar essentials we write about interesting things every guitarist should know a bit of, especially when you’re new to (electric) guitar.
We definitely don’t dig deep into theories or technical aspects.
You will find many scientific documents about anything somewhere on the internet

Why have some amps an effects loop (send & return)?

The effects loop, in short FX-loop is very useful in specific situations.
It’s two jack connectors on (mostly) the back of many guitar amps, labeled “Send and Return”.
We’ll explain which effects pedals you should place inside or outside the FX-loop, and why.

What is the advantage of an FX-loop?

The main advantage of an FX-loop is that it enhances the sound of some of the effects pedals.
It is especially noticeable with modulation and time-based effects placed within the loop.
These effects aren’t colored by the preamp, resulting in a clearer, more defined sound.
Would you prefer a tube amp and want to know how tube amps work, check this blog about tube amps.

Where in the amp is the FX-loop located?

The FX-loop in a guitar amplifier is located between the preamp and the power amp.
It’s designed to activate effects after the preamp, but before the power amp. This is important because certain effects—like delay and reverb—sound much better when applied after the gain (distortion).

Instead of placing your effects directly between your guitar and the amplifier’s input, you split the signal:

The preamp section provides the tone and distortion of your amplifier.
An FX-loop sends the signal to your effects and back again.
The resulting signal goes through the power amp and then to your speaker.

Which effects should you place in the FX-loop?

We have a few tips here. No hard and fast rules. Use them to your advantage!

Within the FX-loop: modulation- and time effects

Place modulation effects like chorus, flanger, and phaser within the FX-loop.
These effects create a spacious sound that works best when applied to the amplified signal after the preamp.

Time-based effects, such as delay and reverb, are also placed in the FX-loop for this reason. This produces the most natural sound.

Guitar-FX special

Learn more about the advantages and differences of modulation- and time-based effects in our guitar-FX special.

Before the FX-loop: gain effects

Gain effects, such as overdrive, distortion, booster, compressor and fuzz etc., are often placed before the preamp.

This is because they work best when applied directly to the unamplified signal. These effects can also give the amplifier’s preamp an extra boost and contribute to the overall tone of the amplifier.

Is modulation also time-based?

Yes, kind of.
Modulation feeds a slightly delayed copy of the incoming signal into itself and varies the size over time in short.

Time-based effects take the original sound and delay it. Often mixing it back with the original to simulate rooms, halls, or echoes etc. 

Compressors and equalizers?

Compressors and equalizers are mostly placed before the preamp to achieve a more reliable response.
However, equalizers are also placed within the FX-loop to specifically influence certain frequencies of the final signal.
For example, think of a mid-boost to help your guitar solo cut through the mix better.

Serial vs. parallel FX-loop

1. Serial FX-loop

This is the most common. The entire signal goes through the effects chain and returns.
The disadvantage: if an effects unit adds noise, you’ll hear it throughout the signal.

2. Parallel FX-loop

This mixes the dry (unprocessed) signal with the wet (effects) signal. This preserves the punch of your direct tone. This is especially useful with time-based effects like delay and reverb.

Not every guitar amp offers this option—some more expensive models do. With a parallel loop, you need to be able to set the effects to 100% wet to prevent phase issues.

Are there specific amps that provide FX-loops?

You really only need to use it if you’re getting your distortion from your amp itself (instead of a pedal) – it allows you to place effects after the amp’s distortion for a more natural reverb and delay sound.

No FX-loop for clean sounding amp?

Essentially, this means that if you keep your amp sounding clean, you don’t really need an FX-loop.

This is why, for example a Fender Twin Reverb doesn’t have an FX-loop, nor does the Deluxe Reverb Amp.

With these types of amps, all FX pedals go through both the preamp and the power amp.

How do you connect everything?

The guitar signal goes to one or more gain- effects and then to the input of the guitar amplifier.
The signal then goes through the preamp inside the amp and then out through the Send jack.
After passing through the modulation- and time-based effects, the signal returns to the amplifier via the amplifier’s Return jack.

The signal is further amplified by the power amp inside the amplifier, after which the final sound is heard.

The right guitar effects pedal order

You will find all information about this interesting topic in our blog about guitar pedals.

What else is important when you are looking for great sound

Please note that many many things are substantial for creating great guitar sounds. We cannot mention everything, but besides a good guitar it could be as follows;

Guitar amps explained

A good guitar amp, whether it is a solid-state or tube amplifier. Think of effects pedals, cables and guitar picks as well.
Want to know more about how tube amps work? And when you always wanted to know what “headroom” means, please read the Headroom special.

Guitar effects pedals explained

Not only the brand or type of pedals (buffered pedal or true-bypass), but the way you place them in the guitar effects pedals chain is important as well. As an example; Did you know this about compressor pedals?

Open- or closed back guitar speaker

Read about the advantages of those 2 types of guitar speakers. Both have a huge impact on guitar sound. More information about this will be explained here.

The right guitar picks

Many people think that a guitar pick is just a simple piece of plastic; the thinner & cheaper the better.
I thought exactly the same for probably 10 years since I started playing guitar. Until a certain moment I went experimenting with different materials and thicknesses.

Well, guitar picks make a huge difference on your sound and on your playing style.
Thicker picks have more mass and definitely sound different than thin flexible picks.
When using extra thick picks, you might want beveled edges for gliding on and off strings with less effort.

You may read the story of ChickenPicks guitar picks at the About page on our website and there you will also find information on all of our different models.

What others say about ChickenPicks guitar picks

Musikhaus Thomann
Chicago Music Exchange
Guitarpickreviews.com
Anatomy of guitar tone

Product descriptions:

1. Bermuda XL:
2. Bermuda III-P:
3. Badazz III:
4. Bermuda III:
5. Light:
6. Regular:
7. Shredder:

Guitar essentials:

In guitar essentials we write about interesting things every guitarist should know a bit of, especially when you’re new to (electric) guitar.
We definitely don’t dig deep into theories or technical aspects.
You will find many scientific documents about anything somewhere on the internet.

Speakers and Ohms, is it important?

4, 8, 16 Ohm(Ω) speakers and high or low impedance speakers… Wow…!!

If you’re playing guitar, you’ve undoubtedly encountered these terms.
These data will be found on the back of speakers (cabs) and amplifiers, but is it important?
I’ll explain what these things mean and what the numbers associated with it tell.

What does ‘Ohm’ mean?

Electrical resistance is expressed in Ohm. This is the simple definition of Ohm’s Law.

Ohm is the electrical resistance between two points of a homogeneous conductor when a constant current of 1Ampere flows between those points under a constant potential difference of 1 Volt.

So, what is the standard definition of Ohm’s Law

Ohm’s Law is a fundamental principle in electronics and electrical engineering.
It defines the relationship between three essential electrical quantities: voltage (V), current (I), and resistance (R).

Arithmetically it is as follows, Resistance = voltage/current.
Symbolically, this is R = V / I.

‘V’ = Voltage;
‘I’ = Ampere;
‘R’ = Resistance.

You can also recognize “ohm” by the symbol: Ω.
Often the letter U is used for Ampere instead of the I we are showing here.

Of course, I = V/R and V = I x R

What does impedance mean for amplifiers and speakers?

It means that the lower the resistance (R or Ohm) you find on the amplifier, the more power it can deliver to the speaker.
This means that if you have an amplifier that can deliver a certain amount of watts at 4 ohms and your speakers also have 4 ohms, you’ll get the most out of both your amplifier and speakers.
It also means that the headroom increases as the resistance decreases.

Is there a relationship between impedance and sound reproduction?

The sound produced won’t differ between 4- and 8-Ohm speakers.

Otherwise, if you connect an 8-Ohm speaker to a 4-Ohm amplifier, you’ll notice a half of the volume as when connecting 4-Ohm speakers.
This makes sense, because at 4-Ohm the amplifier can deliver its full power, and the speakers can then fully utilize this power.

Therefore, it’s important to match the amplifier and speakers as closely as possible in terms of impedance.

What is the difference between connecting speakers in Parallel or Serial?

It’s important to understand these terms as you can definitely harm your amp using the wrong connectio.

In short for Parallel:

2 speakers (both 8-Ohm) connected in parallel results in a 4-Ohm total impedace.

This reduces half the resistance and increases the power draw.
It makes them louder but requiring an amplifier rated for at least a 4-ohm load.
The amp could be overheated and damaged when it is subjected to the greater load, while it only works at 8-Ohms (for example).

A mnemonic device for Parallel = Deviding (/) by the number of speakers (with 2 speakers rated as (8 Ohm / 2) = 4 Ohm)

In parallel ensures lower impedance, which provides:

• More volume out of the speakers
• May cause damaging the amp

Serial connecting speakers:

When connecting two 8-Ohm speakers in series, the total resistance is 16-Ohms.

The total impedance (resistance) becomes 16 ohms, effectively halving the power the amplifier. This results in a quieter sound but a safer load for amps not rated for lower impedances like 4 ohms

A mnemonic device for Serial = multiply (* or X) the number of speakers (with 2 speakers rated at (8 Ohm * 2) = 16 Ohm)

In serial ensures increased impedance, which provides:

• Lower volume
• Safer for the amp

Calculation methods

There are calculation methods to calculate the configuration of speakers in Parallel or Series.
We will keep it simple in this blog.
You will find these methods on the internet when you want to dig deeper into calculations.

Budget vs. High-End Amplifiers

It’s also important to be aware that budget amplifiers sometimes have issues properly driving low-impedance speakers (4 ohms). Therefore, choose higher-end amplifiers if you want to drive 4-ohm speakers.
This way, you’ll be sure you won’t run into problems and you’ll get the most out of your system.

Simply choose an amplifier that delivers 8 ohms and speakers with the same impedance, which is very common in the world of guitar amplifiers, so you’ll find such combinations in every segment.

Connecting an external speaker to your amp or combo

Look for a good device when you like to add an extra speaker to your, let’s say 1 x 12″ combo.
This important as you definitely don’t want to harm your amp and wanted the best sound out of both speakers.

Several brands offer so called “cab mergers”.
With a cab merger you will be able to add speakers in both parallel or series, whatever you need.

On my Fender ’68 Custom Deluxe Reverb Amp I sometimes add an additional 1 x 12″ at 8 Ohm cabinet using the Palmer cab merger.

As I definitely don’t want to connect in parallel, so I covered the parallel input jack.

Other ways to make your guitar sound better.

How to make your guitar sound better is one of the things all guitar players deal with.
Every guitar player is on the search for better tone.
Especially for those who are new to guitar we wrote a blog about “how to make your guitar sound better”.

Related articles for you

• Would you prefer a tube amp over a solid state guitar amp?
• How to mic your guitar amp?
• Would you prefer an open- or closed back cabinet speaker?
• How to make your guitar sound better.
• The right guitar effects pedal order.
• What is tone suck?
• What is fretboard radius and is it important?
• Is guitar scale length important?
• How to use a compressor pedal for guitar.
• What means headroom in a guitar amp?
• Humbuckers or single coil pickups?
• Do different kinds of lacquer affect the sound of your guitar?
• How do tube amps work?
• What is an attenuator?
• advantages and differences of modulation- and time-based effects

Why you should consider thick guitar picks for better sound and comfort

You might be overwhelmed by the amount of different guitar picks.
Should you choose a thin or thick guitar pick?
In an easy to read blog we’ll let you know 9 reasons to consider thick guitar picks.

About ChickenPicks guitar picks

The reason for me to make my own picks was diverse.

Somewhere in the mid 80’s I played those famous red Nylon Scotty’s 0.60mm picks. I needed a better tone, so there was the need for a thicker pick, that wasn’t flexible.

At that time you only could find black Gibson Heavy picks and Dunlop 2.0mm (the purple one).
They sounded OK to me but the playability was bad. I had to work too hard, because I missed a well balanced pick.

I experimented with different materials, thicknesses and beveled edges etc. Read more about ChickenPicks guitar picks.

More about picks

Guitar pick sizes chart: compare different picks to each other

The history of guitar picks

These picks are so easy to play and your sound will be awesome

The best boutique picks on the market

Which small guitar picks will be worth checking out

What others say about ChickenPicks guitar picks

Musikhaus Thomann
Chicago Music Exchange
Guitarpickreviews.com
Anatomy of guitar tone

Guitar essentials:

In guitar essentials we write about interesting things every guitarist should know a bit of,
especially when you’re new to (electric) guitar.
We definitely don’t dig deep into theories or technical aspects.
You will find many scientific documents about anything somewhere on the internet.

Gitarren-Grundlagen:

In „Gitarren-Grundlagen“ schreiben wir über interessante Dinge, die jeder Gitarrist wissen sollte, insbesondere für Anfänger auf der (E-)Gitarre.
Wir gehen nicht zu sehr in Theorien oder technische Aspekte ein.
Im Internet finden Sie zahlreiche wissenschaftliche Dokumente zu allen möglichen Themen.